Feast of Ezid · Cejna Êzîd

Culture of origin: Yezidi · Cultural

Holiday sources: Yezidism

The Feast of Ezid (Cejna Êzîd, Îda Êzî) is held on the Friday after the three-day fast of Ezid, the last Friday before 21 December, the third of the December feasts after those of Sheikh Shems and the Khodan. Êzîd is one of the names of God in Yazidism; for Yezidis from Turkey it is the most important feast of the year, and it is kept with song and dance, often with Muslim and Christian neighbours invited. It falls near the winter solstice, when the sun, the visible symbol of God for Yezidis, is seen as reborn as the days lengthen. Belinde, an old winter feast of the dead with visits to graves and bread given to the needy, is now kept on the same day.